Scotland’s first crime-writingfestival starts out today(Friday)withan army of volunteer helpers.

The three-day Bloody Scotland festival is bringing big names like Ian Rankin and Val McDermid to Stirling to discuss their work and wider issues around the whole subject of crime-writing.

The starry line-up is a big draw. But organisers say the festival would not be possible without around 60 volunteer helpers from local high schools, Forth Valley College and Stirling University, who will be carrying out a range of duties over the weekend.

Pupils from Balfron High School and Lornshill Academy in Alloa will manroving mics at question-and-answersessions, help point the public in the right direction and make sure authors get to the right locations on time.

The volunteers were at the AlbertHalls earlier this week for a finaltraining session.

She said: “It’s great experience for them and gives them a chance to find out what is entailed in running a huge event like this. They also get to meet the great and the good of crime-writing.

“But, from our point of view, there are just so many jobs they are takingon that it’s impossible to imagine things would have been able to happenwithout them.”

Stirling Council culture portfolioholder, Councillor Neil Benny, poppedin to meet the volunteers as theyunderwent their training.

He said: “Bloody Scotland is reallycapturing Stirling’s imagination andthe city is ready for the very firstinternational crime-writing festivalin Scotland.

“From local businesses gettinginvolved to the volunteers from Forth Valley College, the University ofStirling, Balfron High andLornshill Academy, its many visitors are sureto receive a warmwelcome.

“Bloody Scotland is a fantasticaddition to Stirling’s eventscalendar and we look forward to it growing year on year.”

Bloody Scotland events will take place at the Albert Halls, theStirling Highland Hotel and StirlingUniversity. A keynote address willbe given by Ian Rankin about thedistinctiveness of Scottish crime-writing and its relationship to the international scene. He will also talk about moralityin crime-writing.

There will be a chance to meetwriters getting started in the field, includingactor John GordonSinclair. ValMcDermid will talk about how women writersin particularapproach crime.